Really need help!!!

[Topshot]

Well I was working on a rod build of mine and I didn't notice that I got some epoxy on the reel seat. So I left it when I went out of town. When I came back I went to mount a reel on it and found out that the epoxy had gotten under one of the lock nuts and is basically glued in place. Is there ANY way I can possibly dissolve the epoxy to get it off. I don't want to lose this reel seat, as it is a rather expensive aluminum one. The epoxy I used is u-40 rod bond.

[Keta]

If you have a heat gun and a strap wrench you might be able to pop it loose, be conservative with the heat.

[Topshot]

If you have a heat gun and a strap wrench you might be able to pop it loose, be conservative with the heat.

Do you think a blow dryer would work lol. If not I can go buy a heat gun tomorrow

[Dominick]

Topshot go here.  http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Epoxy Dominick

[Keta]

Try acetone like in the link first.

[Topshot]

I'm gonna try that acetone when I get home. Maybe soak a small rag on acetone and cover the part of the reel seat. And then hit it with the heat gun(blow dryer lol) and try twist it off. Hopefully I don't mess up the rod at all

[erikpowell]

Topshot, let us know how it goes for you. This is a valuable experience 
If you need an alternative to acetone, I would try MEK or Methanol. They can be a little "hotter" than acetone and in my experience those 2 will soften dried polyurea bedliner faster than acetone will.

[Topshot]

Well the old hair dryer did the trick!! I just put the rod up and kept it spinning while I hit the reel seat with the blow dryer on high. Took about 2 minutes and it softened it up good enough to twist the lock ring un stuck by hand. Didn't even need pliers for it. Also I was able to remove most of the excess rod bond off after heating it up. But I'm still gonna try some acetone or Mek on a rag to try and clean off the glue that got down in the threads of the reel seat. So a good lesson learned. Fully cured U-40 rod bond becomes pliable after applying enough heat to it. The only thing I would be careful with is not to heat the blank up too much. If it a fiberglass rod it's not as bad but if doing it on a graphite rod I would be very careful as the graphite it bonded with an epoxy and could possibly compromise the integrity of the blank if over heated. I really appreciate the help guys. Saved me a big headache!!

[Three se7ens]

I'm not sure about methanol, but MEK and acetone will soften cured epoxy.  I use acetone exclusively for cleanup of epoxies.  It's one of the strongest solvents out there, and costs considerably less than MEK.  Acetone and MEK do not attack anodized aluminum like paint stripper and spray gun cleaner(that one was a lesson I was not happy to learn).

Heat ia also good, most epoxies start to soften by 150 degrees Fahrenheit and break down around 200.

[erikpowell]

Nice !

Now thinking about what you just wrote, there is a very good lesson to be learned by everyone from that hairdryer trick:

Just like your kids and animals...Don't leave your rods locked in a hot car!!

It's always tropical hot here in Fiji,  and almost weekly somebody brings in a newish rod with a loose seat, butt, and/or fore grip.
I've always said Fiji is the ultimate testing ground for adhesives and coatings.
The continuous heat, humidity, and UV here destroys almost any adhesive, coating, rubber, even all your best leather shoes  
and just about anything left in a car for a day.
word to the wise...  

Thanks Topshot !  Glad to hear you got it sorted.

[Dominick]

You know you are a fishing gear head that when you are in Fiji you leave the air conditioning on when your fishing gear is in the car.     Dominick

[Ron Jones]

Sounds like their is a market for Coleman rod coolers.
Ron

[Dr. Jekyll - AKA MeL B]

LOL!

[Cone]

White vinegar will clean up uncured epoxy. I've used it to clean rollers etc after use by just dropping them in a container of it. It won't help with cured epoxy.  Bob

[erikpowell]

You know you are a fishing gear head that when you are in Fiji you leave the air conditioning on when your fishing gear is in the car.     Dominick

...that just started my day with a good laugh!  So true though Dom... Landcruiser a/c is my & gear's salvation !